If you look in the cold and flu aisle of any supermarket or pharmacy, you’ll see a lot of different cough drops. There are different manufacturers and even among the same brands, there are different ingredients. How do you choose? Are they all safe for everyone, all the time? Those are good questions.
Pros
Cough drops can help soothe the pain of a sore throat. Some of them actually have numbing ingredients while others try to act on the cause of the pain. They may help coat your throat or cut through post nasal drip. Most of them have some usefulness in this category.
Certain cough drops may also help your sinuses. They may break up congestion and relieve the pressure caused by swelling. Most of the cough drops that do this contain eucalyptus, which is also found in many vapor rubs. The volatile oils can spread throughout the nose and throat to perform this function.
A few cough drops may stop the cough reflex. These cough drops often contain wild cherry bark. While this is effective, make sure to follow package instructions should you find cough drops with this ingredient. The active principle is cyanide, and overdosing would not be a good idea.
Aside from stopping a cough, clearing sinuses and easing sore throats, cough drops may also be expectorants. That means they may help get rid of the gunk in your lungs that contribute to a cough. If your cough is productive, it is better to make it easier for the stuff to come out than it is to stop coughing. That could lead to more serious ailments.
Cons
While it is usually safe for children over six to use cough drops or vapor rubs containing eucalyptus, it is not safe for children under six. In fact, children under two should not even be exposed to the oils, even in vapor rub. It can lead to some serious health issues.
There are some “cough drops” that are little better than candy. While they may help your cough temporarily, they aren’t likely to do much good otherwise. If you have problems with blood sugar, they are definitely not the way to go.
Licorice is a great ingredient for cough drops and sore throat preparations. It coats the throat, and makes expelling phlegm a lot easier. You may be wondering why it’s in the “con” section if it’s so good. Licorice interferes with blood pressure and diabetes medications. It can also cause heart rhythm problems in healthy people. Be very cautious about using any product containing it.
This brings up the last “con.” There is always a possibility that a cough drop will interfere with medication. Before taking them, talk to your pharmacist to make sure that it will be safe for you to use.
If your cough lasts more than a few days, or you have other symptoms that might indicate bronchitis or the flu, talk to your doctor. Coughing can be a sign of serious health problems and should always be checked out if it doesn’t go away within a few days.